Researchers are increasingly looking to develop new methods to create smaller electronic components and some scientists are now using platinum to help 'grow' nanowires.

Nanowerk reports that experts in Australia are using a bottom-up technique for nanotechnology fabrication that sees platinum deposited nanoelectrodes being used to grow the nanowires.

The technique means that the nanowires can be created in situ in a device, rather than having to be put into place once they have been fabricated.

Dr Neil Kemp explained to Nanowerk: "Nanowires are difficult to integrate into electronic circuitry because their minute size makes them tricky to handle.

"To place a nanowire into a circuit you must isolate a single nanowire from other nanowires that are produced during the synthesis, position the nanowire into the correct place within the circuit, and finally, attach electrical connections."

He explained that the technique that he and his team of researchers have pioneered significantly simplifies this process by "growing the nanowires directly within the device using relatively simple electrochemistry techniques".

Source:

A bottom-up technique for nanotechnology electronics fabrication, 27/09/07
http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=2730.php

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